Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had predicted 355,000 new claims would be filed.

About 3.4 million people filed for their second week of unemployment benefits or more in the week ended Feb. 11, the most recent data available.

Jobless claims are considered a key indicator of the job market's strength. The number can be volatile from week to week, so economists often look at the four-week moving average to smooth out choppiness.

Lately, that figure has been on a gradual decline. Last week, it fell to 359,000, down from the previous week's average of 366,000.